Number of Suicides Rises Dramatically in 1990, Coroner Says

The number of suicides last year in Ventura County increased dramatically, especially among teen-agers, the coroner’s office said Tuesday.

Eighty-six suicides were reported in 1990, up from 68 a year earlier, according to statistics compiled by the county coroner’s office. Eleven suicides were reported among 15- to 19-year-olds, compared to three reported in 1989.

“Economics are certainly a part of it,” said Richard Deamer, the medical director of Vista Del Mar, a private psychiatric hospital in Ventura. “When Dad is unemployed, or if they can’t make the kind of money necessary to live in Ventura County, they feel badly about themselves.”

A total of 64 of the suicide victims in 1990 were male and 22 were female--reinforcing a belief that men are more likely to kill themselves than women.

“A lot of times men have a more difficult time asking for help than women do,” said Randy Feltman, director of the county Mental Health Department. “They tend to conceal their depression.”

And men are more likely to have firearms, Feltman said.

“Mix a handgun, alcohol and a situational problem and there’s a much greater risk for a successful suicide,” he said.

Fifty-one of the suicide victims were between the ages of 19 and 50, up 11 from the year before, and 25 were ages 50 to 86, the same as the year before. The youngest suicide victim was 15 and the oldest 86.

Feltman refused to place the entire blame on the increase in suicides on the economy. He said the growing population in Ventura County may also be a factor.

“It is clear that when we have a population increase in the county, we’re going to have an increase in suicides,” Feltman said.

In addition, 26 of the people who committed suicide had indicated that they were having problems with a relationship, according to the coroner’s office.

In its year-end report, the coroner’s office said it handled 1,979 cases and performed 429 autopsies.

Among other findings:

* The number of reported AIDS deaths increased from 24 to 32.

* The number of people killed in traffic accidents decreased from 110 in 1989 to 78 last year. “We think it’s because people are paying more attention to seat belts and drunk-driving laws,” said James G. Wingate, an investigator for the coroner’s office.

* There were 20 homicides reported in 1990, compared to 23 the year before.

* There were 1,655 natural deaths reported, with 731 people dying of heart problems and 495 of cancer.